Summit County emergency responders are now carrying whole blood for field transfusions, joining a small group of EMS organizations nationwide adopting this advanced practice. Summit Fire & EMS and Red, White & Blue Fire Rescue have launched the initiative in partnership with CommonSpirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital. The program is funded by a grant from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
This move allows paramedics to administer blood transfusions to trauma patients before they reach the hospital, rather than relying only on intravenous fluids such as saline. Research has shown that using whole blood in trauma care can reduce deaths from shock by up to 50%. The strategy was first developed by the U.S. military for treating severe injuries.
With this addition, Summit County joins about 1.3% of EMS providers in the United States that carry whole blood in the field. Other participating agencies along Colorado’s Interstate 70 corridor include Highlands Rescue Team and Clear Creek EMS, coordinated by Foothills Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council (Foothills RETAC) and the Colorado Whole Blood Coalition.
“Our incident statistics indicate that we may be warranted in administering whole-blood transfusions numerous times each year, giving patients not only a better chance to live but also a shorter stay in the hospital by minimizing the effects of their traumatic injuries,” said Summit Fire & EMS Division Chief Lou Laurina.
To meet strict storage requirements, EMS supervisors will keep units of O-positive blood in specialized coolers within their vehicles. If unused after two weeks, supplies will be rotated out at designated hospitals for use before expiration.
Medics have undergone training on when to administer whole blood based on symptoms like low blood pressure or signs of internal bleeding. Patients retain the right to decline transfusions due to religious or personal reasons.
“In a rural, high-altitude community like ours, time matters,” said St. Anthony Summit Hospital President Trixie VanderSchaaff. “Having whole blood available to our local medical crews allows life-saving care to begin immediately, giving patients a better chance at survival before they ever reach the hospital.”
The O-positive blood is supplied through South Texas Blood and Tissue’s “Heroes in Arms” program; used units are replenished within 24 hours.
“The capability of administering whole blood on scene of a vehicle crash or other traumatic injury really puts us at the forefront of advanced medical care in the field,” said Red, White & Blue EMS Division Chief Jim Levi. “We will save lives because of this new treatment option.”
More information about this program can be found at www.coloradowholeblood.org.
